Breathing valve assembly



Dec. 31, 1968 STRAUB 3,419,029

BREATHING VALVE AS SEMBLY Filed Jan. 27, 1967 Sheet Of 2 INVENTOR 4ENRKH. STRAUB Dec. 31, 1968 H. H. STRAUB BREATHING VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed Jan.27, 1967 INVENT OR B U A R T s ENRBK 3,419,029 BREATHING VALVE ASSEMBLYHenrik H. Straub, Mercer Island, Wash., assignor to the United States ofAmerica as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Jan. 27, 1967,Ser. No. 612,768 12 Claims. (Cl. 13781.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A breathing valve assembly for use between aface mask and a fluid amplifier connected to a respirator whichminimizes the expiration resistance, but provides a flow of expirationfluid to the fluid amplifier to prevent premature switching of thebreathing into the mask until the completion of the expiration cycle.

The invention described herein may be used by or for the Government ofthe United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me ofany royalty thereon.

This invention relates generally to a breathing valve. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a breathing valve for usewith a fluid amplifier which controls and directs the flow of breathingfluid from a respirator or other source of the breathing fluid to a facemask worn by a patient.

It is a very important feature in any respiratory apparatus to minimizethe resistance to fluid flow, particularly in view of the fact that thewearer may be having difliculty breathing, and any added resistance, dueto the respirator, may cause serious complications.

In a pressure sensitive fluid amplifier developed jointly by Mr. H. H.Straub, Harry Diamond Laboratories, Washington, D.C., and Dr. E. Mosley,Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC, for use betweena respirator and a face mask, the flow direction of the main stream fromthe respirator to the face mask is controlled by two opposed controlports, one on either side of the main stream, These control portsoperate to direct the main stream of breathing fluid, either to the maskor through the exhaust to the atmosphere. To determine the direction ofsuch flow, these control ports are sensitive to the pressures to whichthey are subjected, one control port being in communication with thepressure in the face mask and the other control port being incommunication with the atmosphere. By the magnitude of these pressures,switching the flow between the face mask and the atmosphere may beaccomplished. The switching of the flow occurs by reason of the factthat the main stream of fluid from the respirator attaches to onereceiver or passageway wall to the face mask or to the other receiver orpassageway wall flowing to the atmosphere, depending upon which controlport is at a higher pressure.

It has been found that while the amplifier is a valuable addition to arespirator apparatus, it is important that the proper pressure bemaintained in the fluid amplifier during expiration, in order that thestream of breathing fluid is not switched prematurely from the receiverin communication with the atmospheric exhaust port back to flow into theface mask. Ideally the switching of the breathing fluid from exhaustinto the face mask should occur only at the commencement of theinspiration cycle, or, in other words, at the end of the expirationcycle. In order to prevent the premature switching, it is necessary thatall during the expiration cycle the pressure be maintained at a higherlevel in the control port for the receiver in communication with theface mask, than in the control port for the exhaust receiver. In thepast, to maintain this unbalanced pressure normally resulted in agreater resistance to the expiration flow and prevented a fullrealization of the potential of the fluid amplifier and the respirator.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention todiminish the excessive respiratory resistance in the fluid amplifierpressure cycle control respirator.

Another important object of this invention is to maintain therespiratory resistance as low as possible, yet retain the pressure inthe fluid amplifier sufliciently high to prevent premature switching ofthe flow to the face mask during exhalation.

This invention also has as an object the provision of a breathing valvewhich has a dual path for the expiration fluid.

This invention also has as an object the provision of a breathing valvein which the major portion of the expiration fluid is exhausted rapidlythrough a primary exhalation outlet and a portion of the expirationfluid is passed through the valve into the fluid amplifier connectedbetween the breathing valve and a respirator, in order to preventpremature switching of the flow of the breathing fluid during theexpiration cycle from the exhaust receiver to the face mask receiver.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view partly broken awa of the breathing valve of thepresent invention, positioned between a fluid amplifier and the facemask.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 22 of FIGURE 1 andpartly broken away, illustrating the details of the breathing Valve andits fluid communication with the fluid amplifier and face mask.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIGURE 2 andillustrating the valve means and the fluid control means.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 1,illustrating the fluid amplifier.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG- URE 2 and furtherbroken away, illustrating the fluid control means and valve means in theexpiration cycle.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view, partly in section, of thebreathing valve of the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the fluid control means forminganother embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention primarily includes a breathing valve assembly foruse between a face mask and a fluid amplifier connected to a respiratorwhich minimizes the expiration resistance, but provides a flow ofexpiration fluid to the fluid amplifier to prevent premature switchingof the breathing into the mask until the completion of the spirationcycle. The breathing valve of this invention includes the use of a valvemeans floating within a chamber in the bore of the breathing valve forcontrol of the fluid flow through the primary exhalation outlet. Duringexpiration the breathing valve assembly permits the exhausting of themajor portion of the expiration fluid through the primary exahalationoutlet and through the provision of a fluid control means positioned onthe valve means a constant flow of expiration fluid during theexpiratory cycle is permitted to flow through ports in the valve meansand into the fluid amplifier to retain the necessary fluid pressure inthe control ports during exhalation. These ports are partially coveredduring expiration by the fluid control means to permit this continuousflow, but are completely uncovered during inhalation so as not torestrict inspiration.

In the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 2 disclose the breathing valve assembly10 positioned between the fluid amplifier 12 and the conventional facemask 14. As best shown in FIGURES 2, and 6, the breathing valve of thepresent invention may be composed of any light, durable material, suchas aluminum or a plastic, and includes a body 16 having a patientpassageway 18 for inhalation and exhalation, including opening 20, bothformed in an extension tube 22, designed to be received in a suitablereceptacle 24- in the face mask 14, The tube 22 is formed integrally, orotherwise suitably connected, as by threads 26, to the body 16. As bestshown in FIGURE 6 and in FIG- URE 3, the body 16 is provided with aplurality of outlets 28, which may be uniformly distributed radiallyabout the circumference of the body 16. The position, the size, and thenumber of these outlets is not critical to the present invention, itbeing important only that they provide sufiicient area for exhalationand will act as the primary exhalation outlets.

Protecting the primary exhalation outlets 28 is a thin, flexible ring30, forming a valve means for the primary exhalation outlets 28. Thisflexible ring 30 may be made of rubber or other suitable material and ispositioned within a circumferential groove 32 formed on the outside ofthe tube 22 and is held in place between the back face 34 of the body 16and the confronting face 36 of the tube, which in part form groove '32.As can be seen in FIG- URES 2 and 5, the radial extent of the flexiblering 30 is suffiflicient to cover completely the primary exhalationoutlets 28. The primary exhalation outlets 28 communicate with a chamber38 formed between the interior peripheral edge 40 of the body 16, theouter peripheral wall 42, and the interior face 44 of the cap 46. Asshown, this chamber has a radial extent greater than the diameter of theaxial bore 48, which is formed through the breathing valve assembly andis axially aligned and in fluid communication with the chamber 38. Thecap 46 is secured to the body by any convenient means, such as thethreads 50. Centrally positioned in the cap 46 and axially aligned withthe chamber 38 is a respirator passageway 52 coincident with the bore 48and forming a respirator Outlet 54 for connection with the fluidamplifier tube 56, which has an outlet diameter such that a force fit isobtained between the fluid amplifier tube 56 and the respiratorpassageway 52 in the cap 46.

The chamber formed between the cap 46 and the body 16 is provided withradially disposed and confronting abutting means 58 and 60,respectively. As shown best in FIGURES 2 and 5, the face 49 and theabutting means 60 are coplanar.

Disposed within the bore 48 and in particular within the chamber 38 isthe primary valve means 62, which includes a thin floating disk 64,which may be made of any light material, such as Teflon or otherplastic, or any other material which is light enough to oscillate, dueto the fluid flow, in the chamber 38. This disk 64 is preferably axiallyaligned with bore 48. Radially disposed about and through the floatingdisk are a plurality of ports 66, which, as best shown in FIGURES 3, 5,and 6, may be uniformly distributed from the axial center of the disk64. The number, location and size of these ports 66 is not critical,except that they should be of ample size to permit easy inspiration bythe patient.

Positioned within the disk 64 is a fluid control means 68, which is inthe form of a flap valve having a stem 70, received within the centralopening 72 and secured there by an O-ring 74, held in place by anenlargement 76 on the end of the stem 70.

The fluid control means 68 in the form of the flap valve is an importantaspect of the present invention, in that it is formed so as to have aradial extent, shown at 78 in FIG- URE 3, such that the peripheral edge80 of the flap valve only partially covers the ports 66, as best shownin FIGURE 3. The spacing between the peripheral edge 8%) of the fluidcontrol means 68 and the radially outermost edge of the plurality ofports 66 provides a gap or spacing 82 which, when, as best shown inFIGURE 5, the flap valve 84 is closed during expiration, will stillpermit the flow of a portion of the exhalation fluid through the spacing82 and through the ports '66, and therefore beyond the valve means 62into the fluid respirator passageway 52, and therefore into the fluidamplifier tube 56.

The valve means 64, being light, will move in the direction of the fluidflow to strike the abutment means 58 upon expiration of the patient andwill uncover primary expiration outlets 38, as shown in FIGURE 5. Uponexpiration of the fluid under pressure entering the primary exhalationoutlets 28, the flexible ring 30 opens to exhaust the major portion ofthe exhalation fluid to the atmosphere. Therefore, it can be seen thatthere is little resisance to flow of the exhalation fluid through thebreathing valve assembly, since the exhalation fluid passes from thepatient exhalation passageway 18 directly into chamber 38 and exhaustsdirectly to the atmosphere through the primary exhalation outlets 38. Atthe same time, during the exhalation cycle, fluid control means 68, inthe form of the flap valve, will take the position shown in FIGURE 5 topermit a constant flow of exhalation fluid through the spacing 82 andinto the respirator passageway 52 to the fluid amplifier 56.

The importance of this continuous flow of exhalation fluid into thefluid amplifier 12 can be understood more fully from a description ofthe construction and operation of the fluid amplifier.

The fluid amplifier 12 may be made from any rigid plasic or other strongdurable material and is provided with an inlet 84 into which is provideda nipple 86 that is connected to a source of breathing fluid, such asoxygen or air. A power nozzle 88 is provided within the fluid amplifier12 and is in the form of a chamber into which the breathing fluid underpressure is directed. From the power nozzle 88 the main stream of fluidis directed, either to the left receiver 90 or the right reciver 92,which are passageways through the fluid amplifier to the face mask andatmosphere, respectively. Flow direction is controlled by two controlports 94 and 96 on either side of the main stream. Port 96 opens to theatmosphere at 98, while control port 94 is in fluid communication withthe interior of the face mask, as best shown in FIGURE 2. Regulatingscrews 100 and 102 are positioned within the control ports for the leftand right receivers, respectively. When the breathing fluid is directedthrough the power nozzle 88, uneven gas entrainment from the two controlports causes the flow of the main stream to attach itself to onereceiver wall and proceed through that receiver. For instance, when theflow attaches to the left receiver 90, which is the face mask receiver,deep breathing fluid is forced into the face mask and the lungs of thepatient. As the pressure builds up in the lungs of the patient, the facemask pressure also increases, causing the flow through the control port94 and at a predetermined pressure the entrainment of the main stream tothe receiver 90 is satisfied and the main stream is then switched to theright receiver 92 to exhaust to the atmosphere, thus allowing thepatient to exhale. The pressure in control port 94, upon exhalation,decreases without the breathing valve of the present invention to apressure below atmospheric, causing a switching of the main stream backinto the face mask. With the use of the breathing valve 10 duringexhalation, a minor part of the expiration fluid passes through thespacing or gap 82 between the flap valve or fluid control means 68 toinsure that the pressure in the control port 94 does not decrease toatmospheric pressure or below too rapidly. In this manner the patientmay continue to exhale. One of the important features of this inventionis that during the exhalation the main stream of breathing fluid isexhausted through the atmospheric port, or right receiver 92, and thesuction created in the left receiver 90 of the fluid amplifier drawsadditional air from the lungs of the patient through the spacing 82,thus lowering the pres sure in the breathing valve 10 and moreimportantly, in

the patients lungs to below the atmosphere. When a desired negativepressure occurs in the fluid amplifier, the main stream of fluid isswitched from exhaust through right receiver 92 into the left receiver90 and into the face mask and patients lungs.

In another embodiment of the present invention, FIG- URE 7 discloses thefluid control means 68 in the form of a flap valve having holes 104 in aflap valve 166', which is of a diameter such that it may completelycover the port 66 in the disk 64. The operation of the modified flapvalve 1&6 is precisely the same as that previously described, the ports1&4 serving the same purpose as the spacing 82, in order to allow,during expiration, a portion of the fluid to pass through the fluidcontrol means and through ports 66 in the disk valve 64 to preventpremature switching of the main stream of breathing fluid in the fluidamplifier.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that thereare a number of changes, adaptations,

and modifications of the present invention which come within theprovince of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that allsuch variations not departing from the spirit of the invention, beconsidered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A breathing valve assembly for respirator comprising:

a bore within said assembly,

a patient passageway and a respirator passageway in mutually controlledfluid communication through said bore, an opening at one end of saidpatient passageway adapted to be in fluid communication with a patient,an inlet at one end of said respirator passageway adapted to be in fluidcommunication with a respirator, a primary exhalation outlet from saidassembly positioned within said assembly in fluid communication withsaid inhalation and exhalation opening,

valve means positioned Within said assembly and operably associated withsaid primary exhalation outlet to open said outlet upon exhalation andupon inhalation to close said outlet,

said valve means having ports therein in fluid communication with saidbore.

fluid control means operably associated with said ports to control theflow of fluid through said ports, where by upon exhalation a portion ofexhalation fluid exits through said ports and another portion exitsthrough said primary exhalation outlet.

2. The breathing valve of claim 1, including a second valve meanspositioned on said assembly and operable to open and close said primaryexhalation outlet upon exhalation and inhalation, respectively.

3. The breathing valve of claim 1, wherein said fluid control means is aflap valve partially blocking said ports during exhalation, whereby aportion of said exhalation fluid exits in the direction of saidexpirator.

4. The breathing valve of claim 1, wherein said valve means floatswithin said bore and carries said fluid control means thereon.

5. The breathing valve of claim 4, wherein said valve means is a disk ofa radial extent suflicient to block at a first seating position saidprimary exhalation outlet upon inhalation and to open at a secondseating position said primary exhalation outlet.

6. The breathing valve of claim 1, including a chamber having axialextension along said bore between said passageways, said valve meansbeing in floating position within said chamber.

'7. The breathing valve of claim 1, including said fluid control meansbeing a flap valve, holes in said flap valve providing a path ofconstant fluid communication with said ports to insure a portion of saidexhalation fluid passing through said respirator passageway.

8. The breathing valve of claim 1, including a chamber having axialextension along said bore between said passageways, said valve meansbeing in floating position within said chamber, said fluid control meansbeing a flap valve, holes in said flap valve providing a path ofconstant fluid communication with said ports to insure a portion of saidexhalation fluid passing through said respirator passageway.

9. The breathing valve of claim 1, wherein said valve means floatswithin said bore and carries said fluid control means thereon and saidfluid control means is a flap valve partially blocking said ports duringexhalation, whereby a portion of said exhalation fluid exits in thedirection of said expirator.

10. The breathing valve of claim 1, wherein said primary exhalationoutlet is formed by a plurality of exhaust ports radially disposedaround said bore.

11. The breathing valve of claim 19, including a second valve m ansformed in a flexible ring position on the outside of said primaryexhalation outlet.

12. The breathing valve of claim 1, in combination with a respirator anda fluid amplifier connected therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,280,832 11/1963 Burns 137-51223,356,100 12/1967 Seeler 137102 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

J. R. DWELLE, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 137102

